The MHA Blog
Author archive
Online registration is closed. You can register before the race in person between 7-8:30 am. Elmhurst University gym, 221 Walter Street. Thank you!
The 2021 Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot will be offering TWO OPTIONS:
Option #1: Our IN-PERSON race will once again take place in downtown Elmhurst at 9 AM on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2021. We’re thrilled to return to our race course and look forward to seeing everyone Thanksgiving morning.
Option #2: Our VIRTUAL option is offered for those who may be immunocompromised, high risk, cautious around crowds, or unable to travel to Elmhurst on Thanksgiving Day.
Choose the event that is right for you when you register.
(Note ~ The registration deadline for the virtual event is October 31.)
We will be adhering to all local and state safety procedures. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.
This Year’s Turkey Trot is Virtual!
We need to help our beneficiaries now more than ever! This years event will be VIRTUAL – Registration will be on-line only – More exciting news coming soon!
Thank you!
….to everyone responsible for another great, and safe, Turkey Trot including:
- The City of Elmhurst, all departments, in particular…..
- The Elmhurst Police Department, especially Sgt Brett Kaczorowski
- The Elmhurst Fire Department
- The DuPage County Sheriff’s Department
- Mobile Incident Command [MIC] – Don Novak
- DGTT Board of Directors
- All our terrific sponsors who make this event possible!
- Our hundreds of volunteers who put in countless hours!
And to you…the participant, for getting up early on a very cold Thanksgiving morning to help us feed and shelter our neighbors in need!
7,260 runners and walkers [I know, it sure looked like more] braved the cold to enjoy…
- The Men of Spirito and their “Anthem Medley”
- Fr Tom and Fr Chris invocation
- Camaraderie with family and friends
- Music by Entourage
- Hospitality with Steve Riley and Pete Harmon
- The aerobatics of our new Flight Team – The Phillips 66 Aerostars
Thank you for a Successful 2017 Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot!
It was a perfect day.
Not a cloud in the sky.
Over 7,500 runners/walkers lined up.
The Men of Spirito sang.
The gun sounded at 9AM.
Runners ran…walkers walked.
Lima Lima flew.
Louis Armstrong sang, Lee Greenwood sang.
Thank you to all of our sponsors.
Thanks to all of our volunteers.
Thanks to the City of Elmhurst for a safe event.
…and thanks to all participants for helping us make a difference!!
Online Registration Closes November 21st, at 7PM!!
Race Day Registration – November 23rd
Opens at 6:30AM
Elmhurst College Gym
221 Walter St, Elmhurst
Turkey Trot another Huge Success!!!
As 7,417 runners and walkers lined Park Ave. for the start of the 33rd Annual Turkey Trot, many things are to be remembered.
Captains Cari and Chris Piha, US Air Force, stood as our Honor Guard, representing all service men and women defending our great nation at home and on foreign soil.
Kevin Calkins, US Army and Viet Nam veteran, stood as our Honorary Starter, representing our deserving veterans and honoring those Elmhurst residents, 14 in all, who paid the ultimate price during the Viet Nam war.
The Men of Spirito inspired us with their “Anthem Medley”.
Lima Lima flew, the gun sounded, and everyone was put in motion to Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful World”.
It was a great day for all, some 200 plus volunteers showing up at between 5 and 6AM to make this event an overwhelming success.
Hopefully someday we can say that no child goes to bed, or to school, on an empty stomach.
It’s doable…..so let’s do it.
Thank you all…have a great Christmas and a happy, healthy 2017!
2016 Honor Guard
Captain Cari Piha (USAF C-17 Pilot)
Captain Chris Piha (USAF Maintenance Officer)
Captains Cari and Chris Piha are both currently stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
The Piha family and their extended families are past participants of many, many Turkey Trots.
Check out the photo gallery and you just might find Steve Piha wearing a “9th Annual Turkey Trot” shirt in last year’s pics!
Cari and Chris are husband and wife. I’m sure they will be in the hospitality tent after the race….so find them and say, “Hi”!!!
The Turkey Trot family thanks you for your service!!!
The 33rd Annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot!
We hope you’ll join us for the 33rd annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2016.
Online registration is now open. You can register online here or click here for other registration options.
This year’s even will use the same course as last year. Can’t wait to see you!
The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation is also presenting “The Fighting Hunger Walk” on Sunday, October 16 on the Elmhurst College Mall/Quad. Learn more about the walk and sign up to participate at dgtthungerwalk.org!
The 2015 Turkey Trot was a great success!
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Turkey Trot! We had 8,222 particpants!
Congratulations to Debbie Hagensee on winning the Brian Wagner Award.
Timeline last Thursday morning:
6:00 – The rain stops.
6:15 – Volunteers report.
6:45 – Registration opens at Elmhurst College Gym.
7:00 – Trolleys begin routes. Hospitality tent opens.
7:15 – Police Command Center positioned.
8:15 – Perimeter roads “soft close”.
8:30 – All barricading, course marshals and police are in position.
Dignitaries arrive at Start Line, load double decker buses.
Comcast broadcast team-Ken Bartels and John Quigley interview Honorary Starters Paul Krohn, Larry Carroll and John Jeffrey.
8:45 – Roads are “hard closed”.
Lima Lima Flight Team is “perched” over 290 waiting to be called in.
The Men of Spirito! are in position, waiting for the nod.
Registration team hurriedly checks in the last minute “walk-ins”.
8:47 – Dan addresses crowd and introduces dignitaries.
8:49 – Mayor Steve Morley welcomes the crowd.
8:51 – Invocation by Father Tom Paul and Deacon Keith.
8:53 – Dan asks crowd for moment of silence as we remember loved ones lost, our personal intentions and to remember our service men and women defending our freedom at home and on foreign soil.
Ground Control calls in Lima Lima from the “perch”. They will be over the Start Line in 1 minute and 5 seconds.
8:56 – The Men of Spirito! perform their “anthem medley”.
Lima Lima hits the Start Line in mid-anthem with their “bomb burst” directly overhead.
8:59 – 45 second countdown to race as Men of Spirito! finish anthem.
9:00 – Starters hit siren, 8,222 runners and walkers hit the streets.
9:00:01 – Louis Armstrong “Wonderful World”
9:15:32 – Alex Bashqawi crosses Finish Line, male winner, 15:32.
9:16:46 – Kristen Lucchesi crosses Finish Line, female winner, 16:46.
10:25 – The last walker crosses the Finish Line.
10:30 – It starts raining….somebody upstairs likes us…..just sayin’
#32 is in the books!!!
Still Time to Register!
The first 7,200 Turkey Trot shirts were delivered today! There’s still time to register before packet pick-up on Saturday!
